Macenstein’s “Mac Chick of the Month” (June 2007): Mandy Amano

Welcome to Macenstein’s“Mac Chick of the Month”. Each month we feature a different die-hard, Mac-loving girl who is (almost) as well designed as the Apple products they love. This month we present you with the lovely, Mandy Amano an actress and model who helped launch one of the most successful promotions in Apple’s history.

Named â€œThe Asian Audrey Hepburnâ€¦who could kick your assâ€ by the brilliant and famed comic book headliner, Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man, Avengers, DareDevil), Mandy’s popularity skyrocketed when she was featured in the Pepsi/I-Tunes ad during the 2005 Super Bowl. Within hours, she became known as â€œthe face that launched 1,000 websitesâ€ when the internet exploded with over a thousand fan sites, websites, and blogs dedicated to her all around the world. The most famous was thatpepsigirl, which launched within minutes of the commercial’s debut.

KROQ’s Kevin and Bean Morning Show interviewed Mandy on their morning drive time program following her appearance in Maxim Magazine (Frank Miller’s Collector’s Edition,watch Maxim video shoot) about all the attention the ad had generated. They even managed to get Justin, the owner of thatpepsigirl on the phone as well, which made for a pretty funny interview (listen here).

Due to her lifelong devotion to the world of comics, Mandy’s been crowned â€œcomic book royaltyâ€. Her father is the venerable Jeff Amano (Roninhood, Fade From Grace, Red Warrior, The Cobbler’s Monster) of Beckett Comics and her boyfriend is the incomparable David Mack (Kabuki, DareDevil).

“My Dad, being an artist, was always a Mac man. And after all, ‘father knows best’!!” says Mandy. “As far back as I can remember, he always had a Mac…which meant it was also our household computer of choice. In fact, way back when, the company he worked for (Beckett) was one of the first to convert all company computers to Macintosh…thanks to him. It was his idea and now he’s president of Beckett Comics. I’m not saying that’s the only reason, because it’s definitely not, but his innovation and sick talent of foreseeing the latest and the greatest certainly has played a part in his success.”

“The iBook was the first actual Apple product that I personally owned. I, like most, love the design, but I also love how easy it makes everything compared to PC’s. Macs keep things simple, logical, easy, and fun. And they’re cute! Once you go Mac, you never go back!!”

Quick facts:NAME: Mandy AmanoLOCATION: Los AngelesOCCUPATION: Actress & ModelFIRST APPLE PRODUCT: iBookFAVORITE APPLE GEAR: iPod (although I have my sights on the new iPhone!)FAVORITE NON-APPLE GEAR: My manâ€¦David Mackâ€¦fitting name, donâ€™t you think?FAVORITE TV SHOWS: ALIAS (Seasons 1, 2), ALLY MCBEAL (the ones with Lucy Liu), The CROCODILE HUNTER, PROJECT RUNWAY, ROMEFAVORITE MOVIES:The LAST SAMURAI, TRUE ROMANCE, RUDY, CHOKE, The PROFESSIONAL ON MY iPOD: Mostly Soundtracks: AMELIE, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, GLADIATOR, GOODBYE LENIN, HELLBOY, The HOURS, The LAST of the MOHICANS, The LAST SAMURAI, PANâ€™S LABYRINTH BOOKS:The ALCHEMIST, The BOOK of FIVE RINGS, CAPTIVATING, The LITTLE ENGINE that COULD, The MASTERY of LOVE, The WAR of ARTCOMICS:ALIAS, BATTLE ANGEL ALITA, COURTNEY CRUMRIN, DAREDEVIL: VISION QUEST, FADE FROM GRACE, HELLBOY, KABUKI, NYX/X-23, PRIDE of BAGHDAD, RONINHOOD, RUNAWAYS, SANDMAN, SIN CITYHOBBIES: Anything that’ll break a sweat!! =)PETS: NONE as of NOW, I’m GONE TOO MUCH! But I EVENTUALLY want a SIAMESE KITTEN because THEY’re PRETTYâ€¦and a HUSKY, an AKITA, or a SHAR-PEI because THEY’re CUTE, CUDDLY, AND THEY are WARRIOR-DOGS!! And itâ€™s ALWAYS been a DREAM of MINE to have a HORSE (like most little girls I guess, I just never let go of it)! And MAYBE a LEOPARD GECKO!! Aawww, now I wanna pet something!!!

“Oddly enough, the Pepsi/iTunes commercial paid for my iPod! Itâ€™s awesome, great for all the traveling I do. Itâ€™s a lifesaver on airplanes (hard to think I used to lug around one of those portable CD players with a case of CDâ€™s every time I got on an airplane!!), a motivator on the treadmill, an inspiration during yoga, a resource for my work, AND itâ€™s excellent for tuning out people and trafficâ€¦you know, all the important things in life. ”

A Wilhelmina model, Mandy is also currently recognized as “The Hottest fan-girl in Comics” by Wizard Magazine (‘Variety’ of the comic book world) and has just recently completed filming the leading role for the independent feature, GHOSTS OF GOLDFIELD.

I don’t get. Most people don’t associate chicks this hot with a Mac. sorry, but all the chicks I know who are hot use something else. In general the Mac Chicks are the grungy artsy types who don’t eat meat, drive VWs and don’t shave their pits very often.

Mandy, is an absolutely stunning work of art. An inspiration to all Artists including myself. Though I’m sure there’s more to Mandy than her exterior beauty and it great to see she’s doing so well in her career. We both have similar interests in what we read, watch and listen to but I’m sure she hears that a lot..lol. As for the Husky comment I actually had a Husky and find them both intelligent and beautiful animals. Note: They are very active and like the outdoors a lot 😉